Boxing fans know about the famous cold war between Top Rank and Golden Boy. I was thinking the other day and came to the realization that Top Rank appears to promote the majority of their fighters under the World Boxing Organization (WBO) sanctioning body. Same with Golden Boy. The majority of their fighters are from the World Boxing Council (WBC). Has the cold war brought sanctioning bodies to this mess? Is Top Rank married to the WBO? Is Golden Boy married to the WBC? The latter appears to be on a Friends with Benefits relationship with the WBC as I have noticed Golden Boy fighters also fight under the WBA and IBF sanctioning bodies. I can’t recall Golden Boy promote a fighter fighting under the WBO.

I bring this up on the eve of Marquez vs Alvarado fight because the winner of tonight will fight Manny Pacquiao, according to Bob Arum. If Marquez ends up winning which most boxing fans predict, I would not like to see the Pacquaio vs Marquez 5 fight. If Marquez is so concerned about a fifth title belt, why does he feel obligated to fight for the WBO belt? Can’t he reach out and try to make history by fighting the IBF (International Boxing Federation) Welterweight Champion, Shawn Porter. Floyd occupies the WBC and WBA (World Boxing Association) belts and I don’t see Marquez challenging Mayweather. A Marquez vs Porter fight will provide a new perspective for boxing fans. Yes, it may not bring the financial resources that a Pacquiao fight would but if his motivation is a fifth title then that should not matter. Although, a Pacquaio vs Marquez fight will always be entertaining, why drag a series that has given us everything. And let’s be honest here. Had Pacquiao won the 4th fight by knockout we would not be talking about a fifth fight. Period.

Another reason why I feel a Pacquiao vs Marquez 5 is being shoved down fans throat is because Bob Arum has lost credible opponents for Pacquiao. The only options I see besides Marquez is Mike Alvarado, Ruslan Provodnikov and possibly a trilogy with Bradley. Fans get tired of seeing fighters fight the same fighter after awhile. The cold war between Golden Boy has handicap Arum to the point that he doesn’t know who to place Pacquiao with.

If Top Rank does not have an exclusive contract promoting WBO sanction fights and assuming Marquez wins tonight, I would like to see Marquez have the balls to look beyond the WBO and test his waters at the fifth title with IBF Welterweight Champion, Shawn Porter. Would Bob Arum reach out to the IBF about possibly entertaining the Marquez vs Porter fight if Marquez decides not to fight Pacquiao? Would the WBO allow Arum to explore outside their sanctioning body? A Pacquiao vs Marquez 5 also looks good for the WBO. But, given that Arum is Marquez promoter, I will not be surprise if Marquez wins and talks about a Pacquiao vs Marquez 5 start happening. After all, the reason why we are seeing Marquez fight Alvarado is because this was part of Arum’s plan. To have the Pacquiao vs Marquez 5 fight. Anything less than a Pac vs Marquez 5 fight is a huge financial blow to Top Rank and Arum is not going to let that happen.